Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-01

Oh DUlftull HAAS, pfNsNhsay W. csSSs
upon the brazcn patch Of flooring to tbe east
Of the central altar, and Immediately facing
IT. For some thirty feet around the golden
winged figures the space was roped on, and
the multitudes stood outside the ropes
Within were a circle of whits robed gold
cinrtured priests, holding long golden truu
pets in their hands. and Immediately in front
Of US was our friend Agon, the high priest,
with his curious cap upon his head. HIS was
the only covered head in that vast assem-
blaSe. We took our stand upon the brazen
space, little knowing what was prepared for
us beneath. but | noticed n curious Kissing
sound proceeding apparently from the ioor
for which could not account. Then came a
pause ami looked round to see If there was
any sign Of the two queens, Nyleptha and
Sorais, hut they were not there. To the
right of us, however, was q bare space that
guessed was reserved for them.
We waited, and presently far of trum-
pet blew, apparently high up in the dome.
Then came another murinur from the multi
tude, and up a long lane, leading to the open
space to our right, We saw the two queens
walking side by side. Behind them We're
some mobiles of the court, among whom rec
ognized the great lord Nasta, and behind them
again body Of about fifty guards. These
last was very glad tn see Presently they
had all arrived and taken their stand, the two
queens in front, the mobiles to the right and
left. and the guards in double semicirrle
behind them.
Then came another silence. and Nyleptha
looked up and caught my eve: it seemed Ia
me that there was meaning in her glance. and
I l,.l, =, mt Cavk W
eled down to the brazen flooring, on the outer
edge Of which we stood Then followed .
slight and almost imperceptibe sidelong
movement Of the head l did not understand
it, and it was repeated. Then | guessed that
she meant us to move back of the brazen
floor. One more glance and was sure Of it
there was danger in standing on the MOOR
Sir Henry was placed on one side Of me, Cui-
slopogaas on the other Keeping my eyes
fixed straight before me whispered to them,
first IN Zulu and then in English, to draw
slowly back inch by inch till half their feet
were resting on the marble flooring where the
brass ceased. Sir Henry whispered on to
Good and Alphonse, and slowly, very, very
slowly We shifted backward; so slowly. IN
deed, that nobody except Nyleptha and So
rails, who saw everything, seemed to notice
the movement Then glanced again at Nv
leptha ard saw that, by an almost impercep-
tible nod, she indicated approval All tho
while Agonis ewes We're fixed upon the altar
before him. apparently in an ecstasy OF con-
temptation. and mine were fixed upon the
small of his back in another sort Of ecstasy.
Then suddenly he flung up his long arms, and
in solemn and resounding voice commenced
a chant of which for cow enience' sake ap-
pend a rough, a very rough translation here,
though, of course, l did not then comprehend
its meaning. WAS an invocation to the sun,
and ran somewhat as follows:
..Tt.re is silence upon the face Of the Earth and
the waters thereof
Yea, the silence doth brood on the waters like .
nesting bird;
The silence seepeth also upon the bosom Of the
profound darkness
Only high up in the great spaces star doth speak
unto star.
The Earth is faint with longing Gnd wet with the
tears of her desire:
The star gr,iled night doth embrace her, but she
Is not comforted.
She lies cnshru,lded in mists like q corpse in the
grave clothes.
And stretches her pale hands TO the east.
when Thou Grt wroth then Thou dost hide Thy
Thou braves, around Thee a thick curtain Of
shadows
Then the Earth grows cold and the Heavens are
dismaycd;
they tremhle. and the sound thereof is the sound
of thunder.
They weep, and their tears are outpoured in the
rain:
They sigh and the wild winds are the voice Of
their signing;
The flowers die. the fruitful fields languish aud
turn pale;
The old men and the little children so unto their
appointed place
When Thou withdrawcst Thy light, sun,
Say. What 1T Thou, o Thou matchless splen-
Cor,
Who set Thoc on high. Thou flaming Terror
When dds. Thou begin and when is the day Of
thy ending.
T,oa CT the rsimcnt OF the living Spirit.
None cid Place Tbee on high, for Thou vast the
Beginning.
Tsou shalt not be ended when Thy children are
forgotten:
Nay, Thou shalt never end. for Thy hours are
eternal
r,ou sit.-st on high within Thy golden house and
rleaxurest out the centuries.
o Father OF Life: dark dspening Sum-
He ceased this solemn chant, which. though
it seems O poor enough thing nfter going
through my mill, is really beautiful and i'm
pressive in the original; and then, after q
moments pause, hc glanced up toward the
funnel sloped opening in the dome and
added:
20 Srn, descend upon Thine Altar"
IS be spose q wonderful and beautiful
thing happened Down from on high flashed
e splendid living ray Of light, cleaving tho
tw:iish: lie sword OF firr. Full upon the
closed petals it fell and ran slimmering down
their golden sides and then the glorious
flower Opened as though beneath tho bright
Influence Slowly it opened, and as the great
petals tc,l wide and revealed the golden altar
OH which the IRE ever burns, the priests blew
Q blast u,on the trumpets, and from all the
people there rose q shout Of praise that beat
agairs. the doned roof and came echoing
down the marble walls. And now the flower
altar was open, and the sunlight fell full upon
the tongue Of sacred fame ani beat it down.
50 that !: wavercd, sank, and vanished into
vanished, :he mellow notes Of the tlumpets
flung I'D his LANDS and called aloud:
"Ue sacrifice to Thee. o Sun
Once more caught Nyleptha's eye; it was
fixed upon tho brazen flooring
Look out" said aloud; and as said it,
saw Agon lend forward and touch something
OH the altar As he did so, the great whito
sea of faces around rs turned red and then
white again, and a deep breath went up like
a universal Sigh. Nylepths leaned forward
and with nn involuntary movement covered
her eyes with her hand. Sorais turned end
whispered TO the officer Of the royal body
guard and then with o rending sound the
whole Of the prazen flooring slid from befors
our feet. and there in its place was suddenly
revealed a smooth marble shaft terminating